A tragic ending after a mother and four-day old go missing from a maternity ward.

Warning: This post deals with the death of an infant and may be distressing for some readers.

Charlotte and Pascal

It has been the case gripping a nation.

A new mother abruptly leaves a maternity ward with her four-day old.

Her sudden departure sparking widespread concern for her family and police.

Tragically it has ended in heartbreak.

The woman, Charlotte Bevan a 30-year old British woman, vanished from a UK Maternity Hospital on Tuesday night with her four-day-old daughter.

CCTV showed her leaving the hospital ward in Bristol without a coat and with only hospital slippers on her feet. She was carrying her daughter in a hospital blanket.

Her sudden departure prompted a widescale search after police and family raised the alarm.

Police said on Tuesday “Charlotte may appear confused and worried and her baby is inappropriately wrapped for the cold weather. The mother is not wearing any shoes and we have serious concern for the welfare of her baby.”

A public appeal by her family deepened the nations’ concerns.

It seemed that Charlotte and her partner had been looking forward to becoming new parents, but that in the past Charlotte had suffered some mental health issues.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a free, 24 hour national service funded by the Federal Government. It provides confidential advice and non-judgmental support for women and their partners from qualified counsellors. Call 1800 882 436 or go to www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au for trusted, online information